Why A Non-Muslim Observes Ramadan September 18, 2007
Today, Dave Matthews, (ha!) a non-Muslim writing for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, decided to observe the Muslim holy month this year, as a non-Muslim:
OK, I’m not Muslim. In fact, I can’t claim to be of any religious persuasion. I practice Sufism, but that isn’t like practicing medicine. In the community of Sufis I belong to, we understand that we are forever striving but never really achieving Sufism.
Be that as it may, I have for the past several years decided I would observe Ramadan. You might well ask why.
OK. Why?
For my children’s sake and as a model for my community, I observe Ramadan in honor of my brothers and sisters in the Muslim world. In honor of their suffering. In honor of their pain. In honor of the truth of their teachings.
The world we inhabit seems to be splintering apart around me. All the hopes I have harbored for peace on the planet, in the Middle East, even in my neighborhood, seem to be floating forlornly to the ground like the last autumn leaves.
This powerful, remarkable nation that I have lived in all my life seems incapable of wielding its influence in a responsible way. Every move by our current administration seems to dig us deeper into the pit of hatred and anger that has already manifested on our shores with the deaths of thousands of innocents. Radicals on all sides seem to command the lines of communication. So that instead of hearing the pope speaking about loving everyone in the way that Christ taught, he is famous for insulting the Muslims. Instead of hearing of Muhammad’s call for peace and tolerance, we only hear of jihad and a call to murder.
It’s hard not to feel powerless in the midst of the ubiquitous strife and fury. But in some small way, perhaps we can work within our own communities and our own relationships to demonstrate a different reality.
May we all succeed in doing so. May this Ramadan drive all of its observers to “demonstrate a different reality.” May we all work together to usher in peace and unity.
As a historian and Muslim, I am familiar with many of the Sufi traditions from all over the globe. There is no monolithic thing called “Sufism.” The term encompasses a number of traditions, practices, and religious orders that aim for the purification of the heart and the experience of the Divine. In some ways the quote misrepresents what many people practice as “tasawwuf,” the Arabic word for Sufism. There are some Sufi traditions that have stronger roots from pre-Islamic Central Asian and Anatolian practices than Islamic practices. But, I find it troubling to talk about this traditions without taking into account the cultural and historical background of the orders. Mr. Matthews could be a bit more transparent by stating his tradition, as opposed to representing the divergent practices, traditions, and various Sufi orders as a monolithic tradition that is independent of Islam. Many Sufi order follow shariah (Islamic law) and have played a vital role in the spread of Islam in South Asia, Central Asia, North Africa and most recently, America. Many Sufi leaders have played vital roles as jurisconsults, qadi judges, religious scholars, and teachers at prestigious institutions like al-Azhar and al-Qarawayyin. For many orders, a murid cannot make bayan (oath of loyality required to join an order and be an actual Sufi) to a sheikh (religious guide, Sufi master) without strict adherence to the Shariah. But there are some orders that do not require shahada (Muslim declaration of faith), but their numbers are miniscule in comparison to the order that require a Muslim membership.
That being said, I think it is a positive thing. I’m still waiting to get invited to a Seder. But that’s unlikely to happen while I’m in the Gulf.
You’re so cool Y-Love. Yours’ and other jews’ tolerance and open hand towards muslims inclines my heart towards you. When the world villifies us (and “we” villify you), you break expectations. I had felt if I sought empathy from jews, to remember their plight and feel for mine, they would forget theirs , and join my enemies. Alhamdulillah this is not so always the case.
“And a stranger shalt thou not wrong, neither shalt thou oppress him; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.”, “Islam began as something strange and will end as something strange, so give glad tidings to the strangers.”
I have difficulty understanding the verse in the Qur’an “Verily, you will find the strongest among men in enmity to the believers (Muslims) the Jews and the polytheists, and you will find the nearest in love to the believers those who say: We are Christians.”5:82
We (muslims and jews) have more common groung between us than we do between the christians (and I see little to no love coming from ha-notzrim, or anyone). I wish I had some religious jewish friends, and didn’t have to rebuke my brother muslims so often for their Judeo-Phobia (it would help if there weren’t so many kahanist minded folk, but what can you do).
Ken Yirbu, Ameen.
Thanks for keeping the flag of Muslim-Jewish understanding flying, Yitz. I’m sorry more Muslims can’t return the favor.
He says he is a Sufi but not a Muslim? That is like saying you are Hassidic but not Jewish.
I guess he is like Madonna who practices part of the religion of Islam, but rejects most of the rest of it.
Sufi but not Muslim? Try Kabbalah without the Jew. Well, Abu Sinan, we have such fine personalities such as Madonna and Ashton Kutcher. At least your celebrity fringe mystics are cooler.
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